Nestor Caballero, a Miami Lakes resident and Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High School alumnus, remembers the glory days of HML’s sports teams in the late 80’s when they were state champs in basketball and the number one baseball team in Miami-Dade County.
Caballero learned that HML had dropped their baseball program back in 2013 but brought it back for the 2016-2017 school year. Next year they hope to make it to districts. The 1989 graduate saw a need and sought to fill it.
“I have always been proud of HML,” said Caballero. “I’ve lived in the area for 20 years and when I heard that the school’s baseball program was dropped and reinstated, that got me asking questions. So I called and asked to meet with the principal, Lisa Garcia.”
After taking a tour of the school and the sports facilities, Caballero met with the baseball coach who did a lot to bring back the baseball program, Rick Rojas, another alumnus and part of the legendary 1985 HML baseball team that brought home the national championship.
“The Miami-Dade County School Board does a good job for our students,” said Caballero. “But I think that the alumni and the community should step in to fill the spots that aren’t met by the school board. I want to see HML’s sports revived to its former glory.”
,After conversations with school officials and other alumni, Caballero decided to launch an athletic booster club for the school. The idea for the Trojans Athletic Booster Club quickly became a plan and within two months, Caballero had his booster club approved as a 501(c)3 and receiving tax deductible donations for the students. Three board members were established alongside Caballero.
The first event Caballero led, as newly minted founder and president, was a pre-game meal provided for the football team before their spring jamboree game. Since then the booster club has also funded the basketball summer program and more pre-game meals and fees.
Many changes need to take place, particularly for the baseball program, for HML to shine like it once did. The players are wearing four-year old ill-fitting uniforms and the fields need maintenance. Batting cages need to be replaced and there is the much less tangible but necessary component of building interest for students to get involved.
Caballero has hit the ground running in rallying support from friends and alumni but many more alumni need to get involved for the HML sports teams to rise to the hopes Caballero has, among them, raising $10,000 within a year to provide updates, encouragement, support, and scholarships for gifted athletes. A kick-off event for alumni is in the works along with a tournament to begin raising funds.
“I grew up in baseball for the Hialeah Athletic Association and in college I worked for the City of Hialeah Parks and coached a lot of youth sports,” said Caballero. “My son plays little league now in Miami Lakes. I love sports and I wanted to do something to give back. We are calling on your Trojan pride to help your school and athletic programs.”